Bug Cab - Pointful or utterly pointless ?

[Renegade]

Always felt the 2nd gen Beetle was quite pointless (and over here in sunny S'pore, a downright ripoff) and of late, reaching it's "sell-by" date - so here's an effort by Vee-Dub to prolong its shelf-life. But, hey, don't let me biased opinion sway anyone here. just check out the following marketing blurb (which, by the way, I never cease to be amazed by how mktg blurbs can make the most pointless thing in the world sound desireable......)

 

And, oh, considering that the base 1.6 Beetle costs about as much as a Mondeo here, anyone care to hazard a guess as to how much this one will cost when is comes here ?

 

New Beetle convertible arriving in Europe in the first quarter of 2003

 

Unique design and convertible fun for four people

 

Safety system featuring automatically deploying rollover protection

 

There is a bright start to 2003 in store for convertible drivers with the New Beetle convertible due on the European market in the first quarter. Volkswagen's new model continues its tradition of four-seater open-air bestsellers. The New Beetle follows in the footsteps of two of the highest-selling cabrios in the world, the Golf convertible and Beetle convertible. Its design is absolutely distinct and symbolises status-free fun. The New Beetle convertible is refreshing and progressive in the way it interprets the positive character of the classic Beetle convertible which made history as the first classless Volkswagen. The new convertible's emotional values and technical features reflect open travel as an attitude to life in general.

 

The concept of the New Beetle convertible combining extremely high torsional rigidity with fully fledged rear seating, featuring a through loading facility, a rollover protection system that deploys automatically in an accident, the all-season top including heated glass rear window and an optional six-speed automatic demonstrates how very safe, comfortable and suitable for everyday use a lifestyle-oriented vehicle can be.

 

Special paint finishes developed for the New Beetle convertible add a new splash of colour to everyday motoring. With Aquarius Blue, Mellow Yellow und Harvest Moon to list just a few, it is clear from the names alone that a positive and appealing character is an essential feature of this car.

 

The New Beetle convertible will be available in Germany with a choice of four engines - three petrol engines and one TDI - ranging in power output from 55 kW / 75 bhp to 85 kW / 115 bhp. The top engine can be combined with the new six-speed (Tiptronic) gearbox.

 

The technical highlights of the convertible design are in the body engineering and the operation of the cloth-lined three-layered top. Just like the former Beetle convertible, the open soft-top rests on the area of the imaginary C pillar. This design is deliberately reminiscent of the classic Beetle Convertible. However, when folded down the top lies much lower thanks to an elaborate folding system.

 

The top is opened using an one-hand release mechanism. It can then be put into its resting position. In the case of the electrohydraulic system the convertible top opens and closes at the press of a button, taking only 13 seconds each way. A luxury trim strip traces the elegant unbroken line formed by the window lines and the transition between the top and body.

 

The automatically deploying roll over protection has been harmoniously integrated into the silhouette of the open convertible. The system is located behind the rear seat back. A rollover and crash sensor detects when the car is in danger of rolling and triggers the protection system. When this happens two profiled supports spring out and together with the windscreen frame these protect the passenger compartment. The passive safety items, including effective front and side airbags and energy-absorbing side panels designed especially for the convertible, are combined with proven active safety equipment. In Germany the New Beetle convertible is equipped with side airbags, ABS, and ESP as standard.

Edited September 23, 2002 by Renegade

[Renegade]

Here's another pic, with different leather colour.....

[Freemason]

hmm.....i'll just make a guess..

 

is it gonna be like 160 170k?

 

 

oh, yah, by the way the front looks a bit like a bull dog

Edited September 23, 2002 by Freemason

[Offroader]

Wont be surprised......With 160 -170 k and buy my S80 2T already.....*sigh*...bigger piece of metal ......

[Freemason]

then my fren, i can only say u have spent your money wisely enuff

[Offroader]

Actually, with that kinda money, can but several commercial vans at one go.......use it for private use.........sigh.....only that now gov clamping down on the use of it other than for commercial purpose.

[Freemason]

------>can but several commercial vans at one go

 

 

 

but you only got a pair of hands to drive 1 at a time

aiyah, its like dat 1 lah......u gotta live with it my man

 

in the mean time, i still think u got urself a good deal

[Offroader]

Thanks..but still searching if there is a better option...cheap, big enough, look good, sound good....sigh.......i quite impossible huh....sigh....

 

Lester is possible.....he always " I M POSSIBLE" one.